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The Return of the Condor Heroes
Wuxia Wiki | Jin Yong | Novels

The Return of the Condor Heroes

The Return of the Condor Heroes (simplified: 神雕侠侣, traditional: 神鵰俠侶, pinyin: Shéndiāo Xiálǚ) is the first and only wuxia novel by Jin Yong that is a direct sequel. It follows the story of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

First serialised in Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao1 from 20 May 1959 to 5 July 1961, it has become one of the most influential works in the wuxia genre by charting its own distinctive path through its exploration of forbidden love and defiance of traditional values.

It distinguished itself from its predecessor through its darker themes and more complex moral landscape, establishing new possibilities for what a wuxia novel could achieve.

It is the second instalment of the acclaimed Condor Trilogy and has undergone two revisions. The Second Edition was released in May 1976 and the Third Edition was published in January 2003.

Spoiler alert Wuxia Wiki articles aim to provide encyclopaedic information and will inevitably contain spoilers. Jump to the translation if you prefer to avoid spoilers.

Title translation

Similar to The Legend of the Condor Heroes, the title of The Return of the Condor Heroes poses some challenges to translation. The most popular and widely accepted English translation is a simple and lazy translation as The Return of the Condor Heroes that makes it clear that this novel is a sequel and we would see the condor heroes back in action. However, this translation fails to capture the meaning Jin Yong intended with his chosen title.

The title literally means The Divine Eagle and the Heroic Couple. Like in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, the term Condor is a mistranslation, since neither species of condors are found in Asia. The The 雕 (diāo) most likely refer to the golden eagle found in Mongolia. So it is more accurate to refer to them as eagles, though decades of usage and sentimentality has made fans attached to the term condor.

The term 神雕 (shéndiāo) is a reference to the Divine Eagle that appears in the novel, referred to as divine due to its acute intelligence and martial prowess. And the term 神雕俠 (shéndiāo xiá) refers to the hero that appeared in the jianghu with a Divine Eagle companion.

The term 俠侶 (xiá lǚ) literally means a couple of xias, hinting at a love story.

Plot

Background

The story takes place in the Southern Song dynasty2 during a period of increasing pressure from the Mongol Empire.3 The story spans several decades, culminating in the Battle of Xiangyang4, a pivotal conflict that would eventually lead to the Mongol conquest of Southern Song. This turbulent period provides the backdrop for themes of national identity, loyalty, and cultural preservation.

It builds upon events and characters established in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The protagonist is the son of Yang Kang, a notorious antagonist from the previous novel. This lineage shapes much of the prejudice and conflict he faces throughout the story.

The presence of characters from the previous novel provides continuity while exploring how the martial arts world has evolved in the intervening years.

Summary

The narrative follows Yang Guo, the orphaned son of Yang Kang, and his complex relationship with his martial arts master and eventual lover, Xiaolongnü. After being sent to the Quanzhen School by Guo Jing and Huang Rong, Yang Guo faces discrimination and bullying, leading him to flee to the Tomb of the Living Dead. There, he meets the mysterious Xiaolongnü and becomes her disciple.

As Yang Guo matures, he and Xiaolongnü develop romantic feelings for each other, challenging the strict taboos of the jianghu regarding master-disciple relationships. Their love endures numerous trials, including separation when Xiaolongnü, believing herself fatally poisoned, leaves Yang Guo with a promise to reunite after sixteen years. During their separation, Yang Guo encounters various martial arts masters and bonds with a giant condor, significantly advancing his combat abilities.

The story weaves together multiple storylines including the Wu brothers’ rivalry over Guo Fu and Li Mochou’s vengeful pursuit of the protagonists.

Through these interconnected narratives, we see Yang Guo transform from a stubborn, defiant youth who feels rejected by society into someone who embodies true heroism, while Xiaolongnü’s journey takes her from emotional detachment to discovering deep love and learning to express her feelings.

The narrative reaches its climax as Yang Guo emerges as one of the most formidable martial artists of his era, playing a crucial role in defending the Song Empire against Mongol invaders and notably killing Möngke Khan at the Battle of Xiangyang. The novel concludes with Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü’s reunion, after which they choose to live in peaceful seclusion.

Themes

The Return of the Condor Heroes explores several key themes that are darker and more complex in Jin Yong’s previous works.

Forbidden love

The novel’s central thematic exploration revolves around forbidden love, particularly through the controversial relationship between Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü. Their master-disciple romance directly challenges fundamental Confucian principles of propriety and hierarchical relationships.

Through their story, Jin Yong examines the perennial conflict between societal expectations and genuine emotion, questioning whether traditional moral codes should supersede matters of the heart.

Personal growth

At its core, the novel presents a profound meditation on the individual’s relationship with society. Yang Guo’s struggle against the conventions of the martial arts world represents a broader conflict between personal authenticity and social conformity.

His journey from outcast to hero demonstrates how one might achieve greatness not by following established paths, but by forging new ones. This theme of growth and redemption runs throughout the narrative, as Yang Guo transforms from a bitter, rejected youth into a figure of tremendous moral and martial accomplishment.

Loyalty and sacrifice

The concepts of loyalty and sacrifice receive deep examination through various character relationships and choices. The novel presents multiple forms of loyalty—to one’s master, to one’s principles, to one’s country, and to one’s heart—often setting them in conflict with each other.

Characters frequently face difficult choices between competing obligations, creating complex moral dilemmas that resist simple resolution. Through these conflicts, Jin Yong explores the price of loyalty and the nature of true sacrifice.

Cultural identity

Cultural identity emerges as another crucial theme, particularly in the novel’s historical context of resistance against foreign invasion. The story examines the tension between personal happiness and social responsibility, asking what individuals owe to their society and culture.

This theme resonates throughout Yang Guo’s personal journey, as he navigates between his private desires and his public duties, ultimately finding a way to fulfill both through his own unique path.

Cast

See more: The Return of the Condor Heroes characters

Protagonists

  • Yang Guo (杨过 – Yáng Guò) – The protagonist, son of Yang Kang, who develops into a legendary martial artist
  • Xiaolongnü (小龙女 – Xiǎo Lóng Nǚ) – A mysterious martial arts master who becomes Yang Guo’s teacher and lover
  • Guo Jing (郭靖 – Guò Jīng) – A righteous hero from the previous novel who briefly acts as Yang Guo’s guardian
  • Huang Rong (黄蓉 – Huáng Róng) – Guo Jing’s wife who helps care for young Yang Guo

Important characters

  • Zhao Zhijing (赵志敬 – Zhào Zhìjìng) – Yang Guo’s discriminatory master at the Quanzhen School
  • Gongsun Zhi (公孙止 – Gōngsūn Zhǐ) – A rival for Xiaolongnü’s affections
  • The Giant Condor (巨雕 – Jù Diāo) – A powerful eagle that becomes Yang Guo’s companion

Martial arts

  • Ancient Tomb Sect techniques taught by Xiaolongnü
  • Quanzhen School orthodox martial arts
  • Unique skills developed by Yang Guo through his encounters
  • Integration of human and condor fighting techniques
  • Special techniques including qinggong and internal energy (neili)

Behind the scenes

Jin Yong began writing The Return of the Condor Heroes in 1959 when he was preparing to establish Ming Pao newspaper. To attract readers to the new publication, he decided to write a sequel to The Legend of the Condor Heroes that would bring back beloved characters and satisfy fans’ yearning for more stories in that world.

During Ming Pao’s early days, the newspaper faced both opportunities and challenges. When several key staff members resigned to either start their own publications or join competitors, Jin Yong persevered with his editorial principles while skillfully analyzing domestic and international situations, helping Ming Pao quickly stand out among Hong Kong’s many newspapers.

Jin Yong’s rich life experiences, including both hardships and opportunities, influenced his writing. This is reflected in how the novel’s heroic characters face numerous trials while encountering unique opportunities for growth and advancement.

Adaptations

The novel’s influence extends beyond literature into popular culture, particularly through its numerous adaptations.

The 1983 TVB adaptation starring Andy Lau and Idy Chan achieved over 90% viewership ratings in Hong Kong, establishing a benchmark for future adaptations and helping popularize the story beyond its original readership.

Film

Television series

Other media

Comics

  • Asiapac Books (1995) illustrated by Wee Tian Beng and translated by Jean Lim
  • ComicsOne adaptation (2002) Legendary Couple is the first official English translation illustrated by Wong Yuk-long.

Animation

Video games

  • 1997 Softworld RPG for DOS (covers the first half of the novel until Yang Guo meets the Condor)
  • 2000 Interserv International 3D RPG

Music

  • Symphony: The Hero with Great Eagle is an 8-movement symphony composed by Fu Tong Wong

Legacy

The Return of the Condor Heroes has fundamentally transformed the landscape of wuxia literature and Chinese popular culture. The novel established new standards for complex character relationships within the genre, moving beyond traditional heroic archetypes to explore deeper psychological and emotional territories.

Its innovative approach to character development and plot structure has influenced countless subsequent martial arts novels and adaptations.

The work’s contribution to the international popularity of the wuxia genre cannot be overstated. Through various adaptations and translations, it has helped introduce global audiences to the richness of Chinese martial arts fiction.

The characters of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü have become cultural touchstones, their story representing the enduring appeal of forbidden love narratives in Chinese literature. Their relationship has inspired numerous reinterpretations while remaining uniquely powerful in its original form.

The novel’s influence extends beyond pure entertainment, demonstrating how genre fiction can engage with serious themes while maintaining broad popular appeal. Its exploration of love, loyalty, and personal growth against societal expectations continues to resonate with new generations of readers, cementing its position as a classic of modern Chinese literature.

See also

Footnotes

  1. 明報 – Míng Bào. A Hong Kong newspaper that was founded in 1959 See Wikipedia. ↩

  2. 南宋 – Nán Sòng. A period of the Song Dynasty after the fall of the north to the Mongol Empire. See Wikipedia. ↩

  3. 蒙古帝国 – Měnggǔ Dìguó. The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in history, spanning from 1206 to 1635. See Wikipedia. ↩

  4. 襄陽之戰 – Xiāngyáng zhī zhàn. A battle that took place between 1267–1273 during the Mongol invasion of Southern Song. See Wikipedia. ↩